Employee Development Policy
Date Established: October 19, 2020
Date Last Updated: October 19, 2020
Purpose
The purpose of the City’s support of employee development is to enhance the employee’s potential for productivity in a City position, as well as supporting self-development for career advancement within the City.
Policy Statement
Voluntary Educational Programs
1. Assistance Options
An eligible employee may receive not more than one of the following forms of educational assistance for post-secondary education coursework (technical, college, or graduate courses).
a. Reimbursement for Educational Expense
An employee may elect to attend classes during non-working hours and receive full reimbursement for tuition.
b. Monthly Educational Incentive Payment
(Option “b” is not be available for enrollments commencing July 1, 2006 or after.)
An employee may elect to receive $5 per month for every three-credit course, or equivalent, up to a maximum of $50 per month. Participation must be during the employee’s non-working hours.
c. Time Off With Pay
An employee may elect to attend classes during regular working hours and may receive time off to attend class. In no case shall time off exceed six hours during a one-week period.
2. Documentation of Completion
A certificate or other documentation of completion of the course with a minimum passing grade of C (or its equivalent) must be submitted to the department head. The department head shall approve the reimbursement order, and the certificate of completion of the course shall be sent to the Human Resources Department and made a part of the employee’s personnel file.
3. Reimbursement Upon Termination Within One Year
a. If an employee who has received reimbursement terminates City employment within one year of completion of the course, an amount equal to the reimbursement will be deducted from the employee’s last paycheck.
b. If an employee has used the option of time off with pay in order to attend class during working hours, and terminates City employment within one year of such attendance, an amount equal to the employee’s hourly rate of pay will be deducted from the last pay check, for each hour of paid class attendance within the one-year period.
c. This reimbursement requirement shall not apply if the employee suffers a career ending on-duty injury or dies in the line of duty.
Participation in and successful completion of relevant courses shall be considered in making advancement and promotion decisions.
Mandatory Educational Requirements
In the event an employee is required to participate in educational training, such as an apprenticeship program, as a condition of employment, the employee shall not be eligible for any of the educational assistance provisions outlined above.
If the mandatory participation involves a college course, it shall be considered in-service training and the employee will receive the appropriate rate of pay for all hours in attendance. Tuition and fees will be paid by the City. The employee shall not be eligible for an incentive payment. This form of mandatory training is subject to the approval of the City Manager.
In-Service Training
The City may require or approve training programs for employees. The City shall pay all training expenses for approved job-related training. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) includes detailed guidelines for compensating non-exempt employees for participation in job-related training. In general, such employees shall be paid at the regular rate of pay for all hours in attendance at the seminar, workshop, etc., and for travel time to and from the training site. In the case of out of town training events involving an overnight stay, the general rule is that a non-exempt employee shall be paid for travel and participation only during the employee’s normal hours of work. Exempt employees are not eligible for compensatory time or cash overtime for participating in in-service training.
Because of the complexity of the FLSA rules, staff is encouraged to seek guidance from Human Resources in specific cases.
Contact Information
Human Resources Director
hr@cityofames.org
515-239-5199